The tsunami catastrophe 2004 seen from space

Satellite image of the Indonesian City Nga on the Sumatra island before and after the tsunami in December 2004.

The propagation times of tsunamis in Indonesia are very short due to the geological conditions in the region. This means that a tsunami early warning is only useful when it is generated quickly and automatically. DLR's Decision Support System (DSS) will help to make this possible. Quick and effective evacuation of people out of the affected coastal areas before catastrophe strikes is equally important.